VSM Wealth Advisory LLC Takes Position in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK)

VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 100 shares of the medical technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $36,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SYK. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in Stryker during the third quarter worth $362,000. Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in shares of Stryker by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,504 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $2,350,000 after acquiring an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in shares of Stryker by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 93,239 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $33,683,000 after purchasing an additional 5,995 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC boosted its position in Stryker by 2.8% during the third quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 8,611 shares of the medical technology company’s stock valued at $3,118,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prospera Financial Services Inc grew its stake in Stryker by 0.5% in the third quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 15,606 shares of the medical technology company’s stock valued at $5,640,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.09% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Stryker

In related news, Director Allan C. Golston sold 2,458 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $383.07, for a total value of $941,586.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 14,895 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,705,827.65. This represents a 14.16 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 201,392 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $392.24, for a total value of $78,993,998.08. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,642,075 shares in the company, valued at $1,428,567,498. This represents a 5.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 5.90% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Stryker from $425.00 to $435.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $442.00 target price on shares of Stryker in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. StockNews.com downgraded Stryker from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $422.00 price objective on Stryker in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Stryker from $418.00 to $443.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $421.90.

Stryker Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE SYK opened at $378.06 on Thursday. Stryker Co. has a 1 year low of $314.93 and a 1 year high of $406.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 1.32. The company has a market capitalization of $144.26 billion, a PE ratio of 48.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a fifty day moving average of $383.99 and a 200 day moving average of $373.85.

Stryker (NYSE:SYK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The medical technology company reported $4.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.87 by $0.14. Stryker had a return on equity of 23.58% and a net margin of 13.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.46 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Stryker Co. will post 13.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Stryker Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Stryker’s payout ratio is 43.30%.

Stryker Profile

Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries.